Smad binding elements and uses thereof

摘要

The invention provides isolated nucleic acids including one or more Smad binding elements (SBEs) and Smad proteins and fragments thereof which bind to Smad binding elements. The invention also provides TGF beta response elements which confer TGF beta superfamily responsiveness to genes which have such elements in transcriptional control regions. Also provided are methods for using the Smad binding elements in methods of screening for compounds which bind the Smad binding element and in methods for modulating the binding of Smad proteins to Smad binding elements, e.g. to modulate TGF beta signal transduction. Further, the identification of a mammalian Smad binding sequence permits identification of the SBE binding determinants of Smad proteins.